So, what's needed to upgrade?
To go beyond my original post about this, of a week ago? Probably head coach Rick Carlisle.
First, there's signs that the "Franchise" has friction, and probably increasing friction, with Carlisle. This Red Satan piece by Tim MacMahon, formerly of the Dallas Snooze and knowing the Mavs, has details.
First, part two? This is a players' league, more than the NFL or MLB. Aaron Rodgers, no matter how much he wants out of Green Bay and no matter how much he thinks Matt LeFleur made a dumb play call in last year's playoffs, isn't getting management to can his coach. Or his GM. In baseball, yeah, the Rockies GM resigned, but that was six months after trading Nolan Arenado. And Bud Black is still there in the dugout, whether or not he bears any blame for the Rockies slump last year, or 2019.
The NBA? Ever since Magic Johnson got Paul Westhead fired, a year-plus removed from an NBA title, different story to some degree. Especially on free agency. LeBron James wouldn't have finalized The Decision to be Miami if Pat Riley ain't there. That's of course the Riles who replaced Westhead in Westwood.
Back to the Mavs.
First, while Kristaps Porzingis is a fine 2A player, would he a be a full No. 2 on an elite team? Probably not, and that's putting it mildly. He's NOT "The Unicorn." To put it another way, when your coach is praising your "floor spacing," that's a tell.
In addition, ESPN points out what many Mavs fans know. His injury history has cut his mobility and made him a liability on D.
Tim Hardaway Jr.? A probable keeper, and per many Mavs fans, the actual better piece of the Zinger trade.
But, no real No. 2.
Can you get a more well rounded additional No. 3 in the free agent market?
Like a Will Barton? Or Paul Millsap? A full season of Aaron Gordon with the Nuggets means one or both of them are expendable. (Barton has a player option.)
Now, does Luka plus three or more No. 3 options, BY ITSELF, put this team over at least the first-round top, and preferably, at least a real chance of getting over the conference semis top?
I doubt it.
Most other names on this free agent list likely aren't happening. And, that sets aside fans wondering how well Cuban and Donnie Nelson are as free agent whisperers. (Frankly, they still strike me as being used as rich stalking horses by agents and little more.)
It also sets aside whether or not Rick Carlisle, 2011 ring aside, is the best man to be leading the Mavs in the future. Let's ask it more.
At ESPN, Bobby Marks was handing out receipts on Twitter:
Dallas have been to the playoffs 9 times with Rick Carlisle as Head Coach.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 6, 2021
They have lost in the 1st. rd. 7 times.
6 first rd. exits in a row since winning a championship in 2011.
That's why people like me are questioning.
Sadly, the Cuban sandwich has already said "he stays."
And, he's wrong. The Hawks, dead in the water a few months ago, replaced Lloyd Pierce with Nate McMillan midseason — and they're not only in the playoffs, they're still playing.
Or, here's another name, a gent who knows the Mavs, is still semi-friendly with Cuban at least, and who removed himself from TrailBlazers consideration so as not to appear the pet (or a possible tampering investigation focus) of Damian Lillard.
I'm talking Jason Kidd, of course.
IMO, as far as who is realistically on the market, if Cuban swallowed his pride, he's the best realistic option. He WOULD be a change. And, he might get even more out of Luka that Carlisle probably never will. Kidd himself wasn't fast, but he was sneaky fast and had his own change of pace skills.
Donnie Nelson? Not great as a GM, but, in many ways, we know who the real GM is. And, contra the header, he's not selling.
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Update: Per the Athletic, and a Dallas Snooze story with the Cuban Sandwich's reaction, why does Cuban have a former pro gambler as his analytics guy? Surely he could have hired someone both better, and with less of an "optics" problem, than Haralabos Voulgaris.
Oh, and to be snarky, is Porzingis a "non-fungible token"?
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